Digital addressable lighting interface translation method

Abstract

A lighting system having multiple network levels implements various addresses schemes to communicate messages among various devices. A master controller ( 10 ) or a slave translator ( 21 ) transmits a master message (MM) to a slave device ( 30, 31 ) at a lower network level, wherein the master message (MM) includes an address associated with that particular lower network level and assigned to that particular slave device ( 30, 31 ). In the case where the slave device is a slave translator ( 21, 31 ), the slave translator ( 21, 31 ) will translate the master message (MM) into a translated message (TM) and transmit the translated message (TM) to a slave device ( 30, 40 ) at a lower network level, wherein the translated message (TM) includes an address associated with that particular lower network and assigned to slave device ( 30, 40 ).

1 . A lighting system of a plurality of network levels, said lighting system comprising: 
 a first slave translator ( 21 ) at a first network level;    a master controller ( 10 ) operable to transmit a master message (MM) to said first slave translator ( 21 ), the master message (MM) including a first address associated with the first network level and assigned to said first slave translator ( 21 ); and    a first slave device ( 30 ,  31 ) at a second network level,    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is operable to translate the master message (MM) into a first translated message (TM) and to transmit the first translated message (TM) to said first slave device ( 30 ,  31 ), the first translated message (TM) including a second address associated with the second network level and assigned to said first slave device ( 30 ,  31 ).    
   
   
       2 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the master message (MM) further includes a first command;    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) utilizes the first command in translating the master message (MM) into the second address and a second command; and    wherein the first translated message (TM) includes the second address and the second command.    
   
   
       3 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) utilizes the first address in translating the master message (MM)into the second address and a second command; and    wherein the first translated message (TM) includes the second address and the second command.    
   
   
       4 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said first slave device is a lighting device ( 30 ); and    wherein the first translated message (TM) includes an instruction of operating said lighting device ( 30 ).    
   
   
       5 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said first slave device is a lighting device ( 30 ); and    wherein the first translated message (TM) includes a query of an operational status of said lighting device ( 30 ).    
   
   
       6 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said first slave device is a lighting device ( 30 ) operable to transmit a first slave message (SM) to said first slave translator ( 21 ), the first slave message (SM) being responsive to the first translated message (TM).    
   
   
       7 . The lighting system of  claim 6 , 
 wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is further operable to transmit a second slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ) at a third network level, the second slave message (SM) being based on the first slave message (SM).    
   
   
       8 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second slave device ( 40 ) at a third network level,    wherein said first slave device is a second slave translator ( 31 ) operable to translate the first translated message (TM) into a second translated message (TM), and    wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) is further operable to transmit the second translated message (TM) to said second slave device ( 40 ), the second translated message (TM) including a third address associated with the third network level and assigned to said second slave device ( 40 ).    
   
   
       9 . The lighting system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the first translated message (TM) further includes a first command;    wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) utilizes the first command in translating the translated message (TM) into the third address and a second command; and    wherein the second translated message (TM) includes the third address and the second command.    
   
   
       10 . The lighting system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) translates utilizes the second address in translating the translated message (TM) third address and a second command; and    wherein the second translated message (TM) includes the third address and the second command.    
   
   
       11 . The lighting system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein said second slave device is a lighting device ( 40 ); and    wherein the second translated message (TM) includes an instruction of operating said lighting device ( 40 ).    
   
   
       12 . The lighting system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein said second slave device is a lighting device ( 40 ); and    wherein the second translated message (TM) includes a query of an operational status of said lighting device ( 40 ).    
   
   
       13 . The lighting system of  claim 8 , 
 wherein said second slave device is a lighting device ( 40 ) operable to transmit a slave message (SM) to said second slave translator ( 31 ) at the second network level, the slave message (SM) being responsive to the second translated message (TM).    
   
   
       14 . The lighting system of  claim 13 , 
 wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) is further operable to transmit a second slave message (SM) to said first slave translator ( 21 ), the second slave message (SM) being based on the first slave message (SM); and    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is further operable to transmit a third slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ) at a fourth network level, the third slave message (SM) being based on the second slave message (SM).    
   
   
       16 . A lighting system of a plurality of network levels, said lighting system comprising: 
 a first slave translator ( 21 ) at a first network level;    a second slave translator ( 31 ) at a second network level; and    a slave device ( 40 ) at a third network level,    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is operable to transmit a master message (MM) to said second slave translator ( 31 ), the master message (MM) including a first address associated with the first network level and assigned to said second slave translator ( 31 ); and    wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) is operable to translate the master message (MM) into a translated message (TM) and to transmit the translated message (TM) to said slave device ( 40 ), the translated message (TM) including a second address associated with the second network level and assigned to said slave device ( 40 ).    
   
   
       17 . The lighting system of  claim 16 , 
 wherein the master message (MM) further includes a first command;    wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) utilizes the first command in translating the master message (MM into the second address and a second command; and    wherein the translated message (TM) includes the second address and the second command.    
   
   
       18 . The lighting system of  claim 16 , 
 wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) translates utilizes the first address in translating the master message (MM into the second address and a second command; and    wherein the translated message (TM) includes the second address and the second command.    
   
   
       19 . The lighting system of  claim 16 , 
 wherein said slave device is a lighting device ( 40 ); and    wherein the translated message (TM) includes an instruction of operating said lighting device ( 40 ).    
   
   
       20 . The lighting system of  claim 16 , 
 wherein said slave device is a lighting device ( 40 ); and    wherein the translated message (TM) includes a query of an operational status of said lighting device ( 40 ).    
   
   
       21 . The lighting system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 wherein said slave device ( 40 ) is operable to transmit a first slave message (SM) to said second slave translator ( 31 );    wherein said second slave translator ( 31 ) is further operable to transmit a second slave message (SM) to said first slave translator ( 21 ), the second slave message (SM) being based on the first slave message (SM).    
   
   
       22 . The lighting system of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a master controller ( 10 ) at a fourth network level;    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is further operable to transmit a third slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ), the third slave message (SM) being based on the second slave message (SM).    
   
   
       23 . A lighting system of a plurality of network levels, said lighting system comprising: 
 a slave device ( 30 ,  31 ) at a first network level;    a first slave translator ( 21 ) at a second network level, wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is operable to transmit a master message (MM) to said slave device ( 30 ,  31 ), the master message (MM) including a first address associated with the first network level and assigned to said slave device ( 30 ,  31 ).    wherein said lighting device ( 30 ,  31 ) is operable to transmit a first slave message (SM) to said first slave translator ( 21 ) at a second network level, the slave message (SM) being responsive to the master message (MM); and    a master controller ( 10 ) at a third network level,    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is further operable to transmit a second slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ), the second slave message (SM) being based on the first slave message (SM).    
   
   
       24 . A lighting system of a plurality of network levels, said lighting system comprising: 
 a slave device ( 40 ) at a first network level;    a first slave translator ( 31 ) at a second network level,    wherein said first slave translator ( 31  ) is operable to transmit a master message (MM) to said lighting device ( 40 ), the master message (MM including a first address associated with the first network level and assigned to lighting device ( 40 ), and    wherein said lighting device ( 40 ) is operable to transmit a slave message (SM) to said first slave translator ( 31 ) at a second network level, the slave message (SM) being responsive to the master message (MM); and    a second slave translator ( 21 ) at a third network level,    wherein said first slave translator ( 31 ) is further operable to transmit a second slave message (SM) to said second slave translator ( 21 ), the second slave message (SM) being based on the first slave message (SM).    
   
   
       25 . The lighting system of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a master controller ( 10 ) at a fourth network level;    wherein said second slave translator ( 21 ) is further operable to transmit a third slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ), the third slave message (SM) being based on the second slave message (SM).    
   
   
       26 . A lighting system of a plurality of network levels, said lighting system comprising: 
 a slave device ( 30 ,  31 ) at a first network level;    a first slave translator ( 21 ) at a second network level, said first slave translator ( 21 ) operable to transmit a message (MM, TM) to said slave device, the message including a first address associated with the first network level and assigned to said slave device ( 30 ,  31 ); and    a master controller ( 10 ) operable to transmit a master message (MM) to said first slave translator ( 21 ), the master message (MM) including a second address associated with the second network level and assigned to said second slave translator ( 21 ),    wherein said first slave translator ( 21 ) is operable to transmit a slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ), the slave message (SM) being based on the message (MM, TM) and responsive to the master message (MM).    
   
   
       27 . A lighting system of a plurality of network levels, said lighting system comprising: 
 a slave device ( 40 ) at a first network level;    a first slave translator ( 31 ) at a second network level,    wherein said first slave translator ( 31 ) is operable to transmit a first message (MM, TM) to said slave device, the first message including a first address associated with the first network level and assigned to said slave device ( 40 ); and    a second slave translator ( 21 ) at a third network level,    wherein said second slave translator ( 21 ) is operable to transmit a second message (TM, MM) to said first slave translator ( 31 ), the second message (MM) including a second address associated with the second network level and assigned to said second slave translator ( 31 ), and    wherein said first slave translator ( 31 ) is further operable to transmit a first slave message (SM) to said second slave translator ( 21 ), the first slave message (SM) being based on the first message (MM, TM) and responsive to the second message (MM, TM).    
   
   
       28 . The lighting system of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a master controller ( 10 ) at a fourth network level;    wherein said second slave translator ( 21 ) is further operable to transmit a third slave message (SM) to said master controller ( 10 ), the third slave message (SM) being based on the second message (MM, TM) and responsive to the master message (MM).